LA MESA  Helix High coach Troy Starr has been preaching all season about how the Highlanders are focused on winning their last game.

Some might be confused, convinced that Starr was talking about a season-ending State Football Championship Bowl victory.

In fact, the coach was referring each week to Helix’s most recent win coupled with total concentration on the Highlanders’ upcoming foe.

“Our focus has always been on ourselves and the next opponent,” Starr said. “If we win that game then the next game is our most important game.”

The most important game in Helix football history might be today’s Division II bowl matchup in Carson against Loomis Del Oro.

“This game is the buzz at our school,” said Kacy Smith, a senior linebacker who was selected the San Diego Section Defensive Player of the Year. “We’re ready for it. Playing at Qualcomm was an emotional game for us, but this is even bigger.”

The Highlanders (12-1) have scored more than 43 points a game while winning a dozen straight, but defense is the team’s mettle. Fact is, Helix’s starting 11 on the defensive side has allowed only three touchdowns this season.

“There’s a lot of hype to this game, but we can’t get caught up in that,” Smith said. “I know it’s emotionally tough, but we have to treat this game like any other.”

“That may be the best defensive line we’ve seen,” Taylor told the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

Helix’s most noteworthy win this year was the 44-6 championship triumph over Oceanside that snapped the Pirates’ streak of seven straight Division II titles. Yet it was a 21-14 season-opening defeat to Eastlake that set a resounding tone for the Scotties.

Napoleon said the loss to the Titans was a result of “being bigheaded.”

Helix players admit they were a scrambled bunch against Eastlake.

“We were jumping around too much, not prepared for what we were to see,” Thompson said. “They were quick off the ball.”

Napoleon said the Highlanders came into that game thinking they could win because they had won four passing league tournaments during the summer.

“And they came out and popped us in the mouth,” Napoleon said. “That woke us up.”

The loss didn’t sit well with cornerbacks Jimmy Pruitt and Kendal Keys, who share the East County lead with five interceptions apiece.

“Eastlake caught us off guard,” said Pruitt. “We took that as a slap in the face.”

Since that setback, Helix has realigned its defensive huddle.

“We have a group huddle now, which means we stay in a group so we don’t give away where we’re going to line up,” Napoleon said.

One statistic that should not be overlooked is how Helix’s defense has consistently provided its offense with prime field position.

“That’s our goal,” said Milo, who has been honored for his play on both sides of the ball. “Our whole school is excited about this game. They expect us to win and so do we.”

Napoleon said the season has been a day-by-day growing experience.

“Every day we try to get better,” he said. “I think the bottom line of our game is discipline.”